The Nigerian Air Force has carried out targeted airstrikes on identified terrorist strongholds in the North-West on June 18 and 19 under the Air Component of Operation Fansan Yamma Sector 1, destroying criminal infrastructure, neutralizing armed elements at Kidandan, and conducting subsequent reconnaissance missions over Fatika and Sabuwa that confirmed the clearance of further terrorist activity from those areas.
Director of Public Relations and Information Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the operations were conducted on the basis of credible intelligence and were designed to deny armed groups freedom of movement across the theatre of operations while degrading their operational capabilities. He said aerial surveillance was maintained continuously in support of ground forces throughout the period.
Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke said air power delivered its greatest effect when integrated seamlessly with surface operations, reflecting the joint operational philosophy underpinning the North-West campaign.
In a related development, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu told soldiers graduating from the 90 Regular Recruit Intake at the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaria that the security environment they were joining required intelligence, discipline, and strategic thinking alongside courage, and that the era of relying solely on conventional responses to asymmetric threats was over. He emphasized that all operations must be conducted within the Rules of Engagement and the Law of Armed Conflict, warned recruits against unprofessional social media conduct that could compromise operational security, and said Nigerians expected discipline, operational excellence, and unwavering loyalty to the constitution from the newly inducted soldiers.
